NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • Canadian PM Mark Carney welcomes PM Narendra Modi for G7 summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday welcomed by his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney as the Indian leader arrived for the G7 Outreach Summit.

    Confirming the meeting between Carney and PM Modi at the G7 Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on social media platform X said: “Building bridges for global progress and cooperation. PM @MarkJCarney of Canada welcomed PM @narendramodi at the #G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada.”

    Earlier, PM Modi met with Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa separately on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.

    These interactions came just weeks after India’s Operation Sindoor, a targeted strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-oOcupied Kashmir, following the Pahalgam terror attacks on April 22.

    The MEA said, “At the Summit, the Prime Minister will exchange views with leaders of G-7 countries, other invited outreach countries and Heads of International Organisations on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues.”

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary on Monday morning to attend the G7 Summit at Kananaskis, his first visit to Canada in a decade.

    He is set to discuss various topics of development, such as energy security, technology and innovation with world leaders.

    PM Modi said he will discuss important global issues and emphasise the priorities of the Global South.

    The Kananaskis gathering on June 16 to 17 is the Prime Minister’s sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit.

    Canadian PM Carney had extended an invite to PM Modi in an attempt to rebuild ties after India-Canada relations nosedived following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations on the killing of a Khalistani terrorist.

    In the last few months, the security officials of India and Canada resumed contact and both sides were looking at the possibility of appointing new High Commissioners.

    During his nearly 24-hour stay in Canada, Prime Minister Modi will not only attend the Outreach Session of the Summit but also hold several significant bilateral meetings with various world leaders before leaving for Zagreb early Wednesday, India time.

    The three-nation visit, PM Modi had stated while leaving New Delhi, is also to thank partner countries for their steadfast support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism, and to galvanise global understanding on tackling terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

    “Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South,” PM Modi posted on his X handle after arriving in Canada.

    The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies — France, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada and the European Union.

    At the Summit, PM Modi will be interacting with G7 leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen along with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney.

    (With IANS inputs)

  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Former Fulton County Jail Sergeant Charged with Federal Civil Rights Violations and Falsifying Reports

    Source: United States Department of Justice

    A six-count indictment was unsealed today in the Northern District of Georgia charging former Fulton County Jail Sergeant, Khadijah Solomon, 47, with using excessive force by repeatedly deploying tasers against compliant, non-resisting pretrial detainees on three separate occasions in January 2025 and writing false reports about each of the incidents.

    “The Civil Rights Division has zero tolerance for law enforcement officers who abuse public trust through excessive force and concealing their misconduct,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will vigorously safeguard the constitutional rights of all individuals, including those in custody, and ensure accountability in this case.”

    “Law enforcement officers in this district perform their duties professionally and honorably, but those who abuse their power will be held accountable for their unlawful conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “On three occasions, Khadijah Solomon allegedly tased Fulton County Jail detainees without a legitimate purpose, causing each of them pain and injury. Abuses of power of this kind are unconstitutional, erode our community’s trust, and will be prosecuted.”

    Solomon faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each federal civil rights violation, and 20 years in prison for each false report. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case based on a referral from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret Hobson and Brent Gray for the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Briana M. Clark of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping urges China, Uzbekistan to take more measures to liberalize and simplify trade procedures /detailed version – 1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on China and Uzbekistan to take more measures to liberalize and simplify trade procedures.

    Xi Jinping made the corresponding statement during a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit.

    The Chairman of the PRC recalled that last year he and Sh. Mirziyoyev met twice – in Beijing and Astana, respectively – and outlined a strategic plan for the further development of bilateral relations.

    The Chinese leader stressed that cooperation between the two countries in all areas is showing favorable dynamics, expanding and gaining strength day by day.

    Xi Jinping noted that China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to strengthen the alignment of development strategies and exchange experience in public administration, implement new cooperation projects for mutual benefit and common gain, promote the development of both countries and jointly build a more meaningful and vibrant Chinese-Uzbek community of shared destiny.

    According to the Chinese President, China and Uzbekistan should expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment, promote high-quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, form a multi-dimensional interconnectivity architecture, and expand practical cooperation in new areas such as artificial intelligence, new energy, smart agriculture and public health.

    The two sides should actively promote the opening of cultural centers on a reciprocal basis, properly organize the 2nd China-Uzbekistan Education Forum, continue to strengthen cooperation in poverty alleviation and promote stronger ties between the peoples of the two countries, Xi Jinping said.

    He also stressed the need to further deepen cooperation in the areas of law enforcement and security, jointly combat the “three evil forces” (terrorism, separatism and extremism), and join efforts to counter new threats and challenges in order to protect peace and stability in the region.

    Xi Jinping added that the two sides should strengthen cooperation at multilateral platforms, including the China-Central Asia mechanism and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to jointly uphold international fairness and justice and maintain the global economic and trade order. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Vice Premier Calls for Improved Industrial Innovation, Healthy Development of Platform Economy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    GUANGZHOU, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has stressed efforts to improve the efficiency and quality of industrial innovation and promote the healthy development of the platform economy.

    Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour of Guangdong Province in southern China from June 15 to 17.

    He pointed out that efforts should be made to deeply integrate scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, and improve the governance system of the platform economy to create a fair and orderly environment for the development of this sector.

    Zhang Guoqing said it is necessary to take technological innovation as a guide, promote the research and development of key technologies, and create a virtuous cycle in which technological breakthroughs promote industrial upgrading.

    The vice premier said it is necessary to speed up the optimization of laws and regulations on rules, algorithms, fee collection and streaming e-commerce in the platform economy, strengthen regular supervision and strictly crack down on violations caused by unfair competition. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Belarus’ GDP grew by 2.5 percent in five months since the beginning of 2025 — Belstat

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    MINSK, June 17 (Xinhua) — Belarus’ gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.5 percent year-on-year in the period from January to May 2025, the Belarusian National Statistical Committee (Belstat) said on Tuesday.

    According to the initial estimate, Belarus’s GDP for the first five months of 2025 in current prices amounted to 101.4 billion Belarusian rubles /about 34 billion US dollars/, or 102.5 percent in comparable prices compared to the same period in 2024.

    The GDP deflator index of Belarus in January-May 2025 compared to the same period last year amounted to 106.4 percent. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on Canadian Council of Forest Ministers chair appointment

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, has released the following statement on the annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM):

    “This week, I met with federal, provincial and territorial forest ministers from across Canada to discuss shared priorities, challenges and emerging opportunities for Canada’s forestry sector.

    “It’s an honour to take on the role of incoming chair of the CCFM for the upcoming year. I want to thank the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Fisheries, Forests and Agriculture for Newfoundland and Labrador, for her leadership over the past year.

    “As British Columbia’s minister of forests, I’ve seen first-hand the importance of working together across jurisdictions to strengthen Canada’s forest sector in the face of persistent and new challenges. From global trade dynamics and U.S. tariffs, to ever-intensifying wildfire seasons and shifting labour markets, these challenges don’t stop at provincial or territorial boundaries, and neither can our solutions.

    “My priority will always be to put people first. Whether it’s protecting their homes from wildfire, adding more local jobs or ensuring forestry continues to be a source of pride and prosperity for our rural, remote and First Nations communities, this work must be rooted in the well-being of people. Together with my colleagues across the country, I look forward to scaling up our wildfire response, including expanded aerial firefighting capacity, and accelerating reforestation efforts, like B.C.’s commitment to planting hundreds of millions of trees.

    “The ongoing threat of U.S. softwood lumber tariffs continues to unfairly impact workers, families and communities in Canada. As the new chair, I’m committed to working with the federal government and my counterparts across Canada to push back against these unjust trade actions and advocate for a long-term deal that will ensure that B.C. and Canadian forestry businesses can compete on a level playing field. We will continue to expand our market access through trade diversification, opening new doors for Canadian wood products, advancing innovation in value-added wood manufacturing and strengthening our global competitiveness.

    “I’m grateful to my provincial and territorial colleagues for their ongoing commitment to this work, and I look forward to building on the CCFM’s legacy of collaboration as we move forward, together.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Reps. Lynch, Courtney and Golden Join IAM Union, Boston Ship Repair to Call for Urgent Investments in U.S. Shipbuilding, Repair

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    BOSTON, June 17, 2025 – U.S. Reps. Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) joined the IAM Union and Boston Ship Repair leadership to call for urgent investments to save the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industries.

    Joined by IAM Union-represented workers at Boston Ship Repair, the coalition of elected officials, union leaders and shipyard management highlighted the national and economic security risk posed by a dwindling U.S. shipbuilding and repair industry. Currently, about 80 U.S.-flagged ships are engaged in international commerce compared to over 5,500 China-flagged vessels. China recently overtook the U.S. in Navy fleet size.

    The group has backed U.S. Trade Representative penalties on Chinese ships and steps to incentivize the production and purchase of U.S.-built vessels. They are also championing the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act, which would rebuild the U.S. shipyard base and invest in recruitment and training of shipyard workers and mariners. The coalition is highlighting the need to efficiently utilize and grow domestic shipbuilding and repair capacity to increase the workforce at Boston Ship Repair and across the country. 

    “Revitalizing American shipbuilding is critical to our national and economic security. It’s a bipartisan goal in Washington, and we need to use all of our available shipyard capacity to get the job done if we’re going to deliver on it,” said Rep. Courtney. “We must provide American shipyards and shipbuilders, like Boston Ship Repair, with the demand they need to make investments in their future and the future of our domestic shipbuilding industry.”

    “America needs strong shipyards. On the defense front, we are lagging in the production of American warships necessary to meet current and future force needs. We also lack the commercial vessels we need to compete in the global economy,” Rep. Golden said. “The reality is simple: If we aren’t giving work to the men and women who power America’s shipyards, they will find new jobs and we will fall further behind. Congress needs to keep up demand for warships to sustain the world’s greatest Navy and we need to pass the SHIPS Act to strengthen our shipyards, our commercial fleet and our supply chains. Our future demands it.”

    “American national and economic security depends on urgent and long overdue investments in our shipbuilding and repair industry,” said IAM Union Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “That’s why the IAM Union has led the way toward tougher trade rules on China, much-needed investments in U.S. shipyard workers, and a strong call for the efficient use of our existing shipyards, like Boston Ship Repair. We’re incredibly grateful for our champions in this fight, including Congressmen Lynch, Courtney and Golden.”

    “We’ve invested in Boston Ship Repair because we believe in its potential—not just as a business, but as a critical national asset,” said Boston Ship Repair Owner Jon Cronin. “With a highly skilled union workforce, proven infrastructure, and the experience to deliver, BSR stands ready to be part of the solution to America’s shipyard capacity crisis. But we can’t do it alone. Without consistent work and federal investment, this vital facility—and the hundreds of jobs it sustains—are at risk. We’re calling on Congress and the Navy to recognize BSR not just as a shipyard, but as a strategic pillar of the defense industrial base. With immediate support, we can expand our capacity, modernize our infrastructure, and begin reducing the Navy’s repair backlog today—while preserving American maritime strength for generations to come.”

    “Our IAM Union members at Boston Ship Repair are skilled, dedicated workers who are proud to support our maritime missions,” said IAM Union Local S25 President Andre Lavertue, a 30-year IAM Union member and crane operator at Boston Ship Repair. “But over the years, we’ve seen these jobs become less reliable and too often result in layoffs when work goes away. American shipyard workers are ready to reinvigorate this industry and win the future of global shipbuilding and repair.”

    The IAM Union, which represents workers at Boston Ship Repair and shipbuilding and repair workers across the country, is leading the charge to restore U.S. shipbuilding by investing in American workers, as well as taking on predatory Chinese trade practices through a U.S. Trade Representative’s Office investigation and supporting the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act.

    Boston Ship Repair has provided personalized services for domestic, international and government customers since 1995. It is one of the largest docks on the Eastern and Gulf Coasts and can handle vessels up to 1,000 feet with a 105 foot beam. Boston Ship Repair is committed to provide vessel maintenance, repair, overhaul and conversion services that are unsurpassed in the industry.

    The post U.S. Reps. Lynch, Courtney and Golden Join IAM Union, Boston Ship Repair to Call for Urgent Investments in U.S. Shipbuilding, Repair appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Alder Springs Fire in Oregon

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Alder Springs Fire in Oregon

    FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Alder Springs Fire in Oregon

    BOTHELL, Wash

     –  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Alder Springs Fire burning in Jefferson County, Oregon

     The state of Oregon’s request for a declaration under FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program was approved by FEMA Region 10 Acting Administrator Vincent J

    Maykovich on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 10:27 p

    m

    PT

    He determined that the Alder Springs Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster

     This is the second FMAG declaration in 2025 to help fight Oregon wildfires

     At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the communities of Crooked River Ranch and Redmond

    FMAGs make funding available to pay up to 75 percent of a state’s eligible firefighting costs for fires that threaten to become major disasters

    Eligible items can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire

    These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire

      ###Follow FEMA Region 10 on X and LinkedIn for the latest updates and visit FEMA

    gov for more information

    FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters

    mary

    j

    edmon
    Tue, 06/17/2025 – 18:31

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Claims Office Reimbursement Available for Certain Risk-Reduction Projects: November 14, 2025, Deadline for Claimants

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Claims Office Reimbursement Available for Certain Risk-Reduction Projects: November 14, 2025, Deadline for Claimants

    Claims Office Reimbursement Available for Certain Risk-Reduction Projects: November 14, 2025, Deadline for Claimants

    SANTA FE, NM — Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire claimants whose structures were left with increased risks of wildfires, flooding or other cascading impacts may be reimbursed for costs to reduce these risks to pre-fire levels, but they must finish the work by the deadline of November 14, 2025

     DEADLINE DETAILS: Claimants must have a valid NOL requesting risk reduction, must complete the risk reduction project, and incur all costs by November

    14, 2025

      Claimants must own the property, identify the heightened risks to structures and outline the project’s costs, scope, date of completion and how the project reduces the risks to pre-fire levels

     Risk-reduction costs may be reimbursed under the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act

     Risk reduction differs from repairing or rebuilding a damaged property, which is done to restore structures to their pre-fire condition, capacity and function

     A site visit may be required to verify a completed project

    Total reimbursement for projects will be capped at 50% of the replacement cost value of the structure being protected

    Any costs that exceed this cap are the claimant’s responsibility

    Eligible risk reduction projects for public facilities must first be submitted to FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program and denied for all or partial assistance before they can be submitted to the Claims Office

    Properties in areas damaged by wildfire are often more vulnerable to natural hazards or cascading impacts after a fire, so it’s vital that affected property owners know how to reduce their risks and minimize potential impacts from future disasters

      “Risk reduction is essential to help claimants remain in or return to their homes and communities by improving their properties’ resilience against future wildfires or flooding,” said Jay Mitchell, Director of Operations for the New Mexico Joint Recovery Office

    “I would encourage claimants to take advantage of this program, which will decrease the risk of future property damage

    ” Examples of possible risk reduction projects Installing a fire-retardant roofDecreasing wildfire risks by cutting back vegetation and creating fire breaksBuilding a berm or other barrier to block floodwaterDigging a drainage channel to divert stormwater Installing a culvert and associated ditches near a private road or driveway  Stabilizing the ground under structures and culverts to prevent erosion For information and updates, please visit the Claims Office website at www

    fema

    gov/hermits-peak

    For information in Spanish, visit www

    fema

    gov/es/disaster/current/hermits-peak

    To stay updated on upcoming events, visit the News and the “News and Events” page on our website at www

    fema

    gov/hermits-peak/media

    You can also follow our Facebook page at facebook

    com/HermitsPeakCalfCanyonClaimsOffice for updates on the claims process, deadlines, and program announcements

     
    joy

    li
    Tue, 06/17/2025 – 17:16

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Engineers Simulate Lunar Lighting for Artemis III Moon Landing

    Source: NASA

    Better understanding the lunar lighting environment will help NASA prepare astronauts for the harsh environment Artemis III Moonwalkers will experience on their mission. NASA’s Artemis III mission will build on earlier test flights and add new capabilities with the human landing system and advanced spacesuits to send the first astronauts to explore the lunar South Pole and prepare humanity to go to Mars.
    Using high-intensity lighting and low-fidelity mock-ups of a lunar lander, lunar surface, and lunar rocks, NASA engineers are simulating the Moon’s environment at the Flat Floor Facility to study and experience the extreme lighting condition. The facility is located at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

    “The goal is really to understand how shadows will affect lander visual inspection and assessment efforts throughout a future crewed mission,” said Emma Jaynes, test engineer at the facility. “Because the Flat Floor Facility is similar to an inverted air hockey table, NASA and our industry partners can rearrange large, heavy structures with ease – and inspect the shadows’ effects from multiple angles, helping to ensure mission success and astronaut safety for Artemis III.”
    Data and analysis from testing at NASA are improving models Artemis astronauts will use in preparation for lander and surface operations on the Moon during Artemis III. The testing also is helping cross-agency teams evaluate various tools astronauts may use.
    The 86-foot-long by 44-foot-wide facility at NASA is one of the largest, flattest, and most stable air-bearing floors in the world, allowing objects to move across the floor without friction on a cushion of air.
    Test teams use large, 12-kilowatt and 6-kilowatt lights to replicate the low-angle, high contrast conditions of the lunar South Pole. Large swaths of fabric are placed on top of the epoxy floor to imitate the reflective properties of lunar regolith. All the mock-ups are placed on air bearings, allowing engineers to easily move and situate structures on the floor.

    “The Sun is at a permanent low angle at the South Pole of the Moon, meaning astronauts will experience high contrasts between the lit and shadowed regions,” Jaynes said. “The color white can become blinding in direct sunlight, while the shadows behind a rock could stretch for feet and ones behind a lander could extend for miles.”
    The laboratory is large enough for people to walk around and experience this phenomenon with the naked eye, adding insight to what NASA calls ‘human in-the-loop testing.
    NASA is working with SpaceX to develop the company’s Starship Human Landing System to safely send Artemis astronauts to the Moon’s surface and back to lunar orbit for Artemis III.
    Through the Artemis campaign, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars – for the benefit of all. 
    For more information about Artemis missions, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/artemis

    Corinne Beckinger Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. 256.544.0034  corinne.m.beckinger@nasa.gov 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Training for the Moo(n)

    Source: NASA

    A curious cow watches as NASA astronauts Andre Douglas and Kate Rubins perform a simulated moonwalk in the San Francisco Volcanic Field in Northern Arizona on May 14, 2024, in preparation for NASA’s historic Artemis III Moon landing mission. Flight controllers and scientists guided activities during the week-long simulation from mission control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
    Tests like this are critical for NASA’s Artemis science teams because they provide an opportunity to test integration with mission control. In the Science Evaluation Room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, lunar scientists, geologists, and experts in image analysis and sample science direct and evaluate lunar surface science and geologic observations. They assess and adapt moonwalk traverses, communicating any feedback or changes with the science officer on the flight control team. The science officer conveys those messages to the Capcom officer, who then shares insights and recommendations with the crew during missions.
    Learn why training like this is critical to mission success.
    Image credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Centers to Open in Howell, Ozark, Perry and Webster

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Centers to Open in Howell, Ozark, Perry and Webster

    Disaster Recovery Centers to Open in Howell, Ozark, Perry and Webster

    Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) will open in Howell, Ozark, Perry and Webster counties to provide in-person assistance to residents affected by the March 14-15 disaster

     If you’ve already applied for assistance, you can speak with a FEMA representative in-person about the status of your application or get help uploading needed documents to complete your application

    DRC LocationsDRC Hours of OperationPerry CountyPerry County Courthouse15 W

    Sainte Marie St

     Perryville, MO 63775June 18: 9 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    June 19-21: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Webster CountyWebster County Emergency Management433 E

    Commercial StMarshfield, MO 65706June 18: 9 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    June 19-21: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Howell CountyWest Plains Civic Center 110 St Louis St

    West Plains, MO 65775June 23: 9 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    June 24-27: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Ozark CountyBakersfield R IV School District1201 SSR-OBakersfield, MO 65609June 23: 9 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    June 24 and 25: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    If you still need to apply for FEMA disaster assistance, you can go online to DisasterAssistance

    gov, call toll-free 800-621-3362, or download the FEMA App

     Homeowners and renters affected by the March 14-15 disaster in Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, St

    Louis, Wayne, Webster, and Wright counties may be eligible for FEMA assistance that includes rental assistance, lodging expenses reimbursement, home repair and other needs

    You may visit any of our DRCs in your community to apply for FEMA assistance

    sara

    zuckerman
    Tue, 06/17/2025 – 14:45

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA, German Aerospace Center to Expand Artemis Campaign Cooperation

    Source: NASA

    While attending the Paris Air Show June 16, NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro signed an agreement with DLR (German Aerospace Center, or Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) to continue a partnership in space medicine research. This renewed collaboration builds on previous radiation mitigation efforts for human spaceflight. As NASA advances the Trump-Vance Administration’s goals for exploration on the Moon and Mars, minimizing exposure to space radiation is one of the key areas the agency is working to protect crew on long duration missions.
    With this agreement, DLR will leverage its human spaceflight expertise and provide new radiation sensors aboard the Orion spacecraft during NASA’s Artemis II mission, building on previous work in this area during the Artemis I mission. Scheduled for launch no later than April 2026, Artemis II will mark the first test flight with crew under Artemis.
    “In keeping with the historic agreements NASA has made with international partners as a part of Artemis, I am pleased to sign a new NASA-DLR joint agreement today, to enable radiation research aboard Artemis II,” said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro. “The German Aerospace Center has been a valuable partner in Artemis, having previously worked with NASA to test technology critical to our understanding of radiation on humans aboard an Orion spacecraft on Artemis I and providing a CubeSat as part of Artemis II. Following a productive meeting between President Trump and German Chancellor Merz earlier this month, I am excited to build upon our great partnership with Germany.”
    During the Artemis II mission’s planned 10-day journey around the Moon and back, four of DLR’s newly developed M-42 extended (M-42 EXT) radiation detectors will be on board, contributing vital data to support astronaut safety. This next-generation device represents a new phase of research as NASA and DLR continue working together to safeguard human health in space.
    Under the leadership of President Trump, America’s Artemis campaign has reignited NASA’s ambition, sparking international cooperation and cutting-edge innovation. The continued partnership with DLR and the deployment of their advanced M-42 EXT radiation detectors aboard Artemis II exemplifies how the Trump-Vance Administration is leading a Golden Era of Exploration and Innovation that puts American astronauts on the path to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
    “To develop effective protective measures against the impact of space radiation on the human body, comprehensive and coherent radiation measurements in open space are essential,” says Anke Pagels-Kerp, divisional board member for space at DLR. “At the end of 2022, Artemis I carried 12,000 passive and 16 active detectors inside the Helga and Zohar mannequins, which flew aboard the Orion spacecraft as part of DLR’s MARE project. These provided a valuable dataset – the first continuous radiation measurements ever recorded beyond low Earth orbit. We are now excited to take the next step together with NASA and send our upgraded radiation detectors around the Moon on the Artemis II mission.”
    Through the Artemis campaign, the agency will establish a long-term presence on the Moon for scientific exploration with our commercial and international partners, learn how to live and work away from home, and prepare for future human exploration of Mars.
    For more information about Artemis, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/artemis
    -end-
    Bethany Stevens / Rachel KraftHeadquarters202-358-1600bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gv / rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A New Hybrid System Could Enable Spacecraft Attitude Control Systems to Perform Scientific Measurements

    Source: NASA

    A NASA-sponsored team is creating a new approach to measure magnetic fields by developing a new system that can both take scientific measurements and provide spacecraft attitude control functions. This new system is small, lightweight, and can be accommodated onboard the spacecraft, eliminating the need for the boom structure that is typically required to measure Earth’s magnetic field, thus allowing smaller, lower-cost spacecraft to take these measurements. In fact, this new system could not only enable small spacecraft to measure the magnetic field, it could replace the standard attitude control systems in future spacecraft that orbit Earth, allowing them to provide the important global measurements that enable us to understand how Earth’s magnetic field protects us from dangerous solar particles.

    Photo of the aurora (taken in Alaska) showing small scale features that are often present. Credit: NASA/Sebastian Saarloos
    Solar storms drive space weather that threatens our many assets in space and can also disrupt Earth’s upper atmosphere impacting our communications and power grids. Thankfully, the Earth’s magnetic field protects us and funnels much of that energy into the north and south poles creating aurorae. The aurorae are a beautiful display of the electromagnetic energy and currents that flow throughout the Earth’s space environment. They often have small-scale magnetic features that affect the total energy flowing through the system. Observing these small features requires multiple simultaneous observations over a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, which can be accomplished by constellations of small spacecraft.
    To enable such constellations, NASA is developing an innovative hybrid magnetometer that makes both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) magnetic measurements and is embedded in the spacecraft’s attitude determination and control system (ADCS)—the system that enables the satellite to know and control where it is pointing. High-performance, low SWAP+C (low-size, weight and power + cost) instruments are required, as is the ability to manufacture and test large numbers of these instruments within a typical flight build schedule. Future commercial or scientific satellites could use these small, lightweight embedded hybrid magnetometers to take the types of measurements that will expand our understanding of space weather and how Earth’s magnetic field responds to solar storms
    It is typically not possible to take research-quality DC and AC magnetic measurements using sensors within an ADCS since the ADCS is inside the spacecraft and near contaminating sources of magnetic noise such as magnetic torque rods—the electromagnets that generate a magnetic field and push against the Earth’s magnetic field to control the orientation of a spacecraft. Previous missions that have flown both DC and AC magnetometers placed them on long booms pointing in opposite directions from the satellite to keep the sensors as far from the spacecraft and each other as possible. In addition, the typical magnetometer used by an ADCS to measure the orientation of the spacecraft with respect to the geomagnetic field does not sample fast enough to measure the high-frequency signals needed to make magnetic field observations.
    A NASA-sponsored team at the University of Michigan is developing a new hybrid magnetometer and attitude determination and control system (HyMag-ADCS) that is a low-SWAP single package that can be integrated into a spacecraft without booms. HyMag-ADCS consists of a three-axis search coil AC magnetometer and a three-axis Quad-Mag DC magnetometer. The Quad-Mag DC magnetometer uses machine learning to enable boomless DC magnetometery, and the hybrid search-coil AC magnetometer includes attitude determination torque rods to enable the single 1U volume (103 cm) system to perform ADCS functions as well as collect science measurements.

    The HyMag-ADCS team is incorporating the following technologies into the system to ensure success.
    Quad-Mag Hardware: The Quad-Mag DC magnetometer consists of four magneto-inductive magnetometers and a space-qualified micro-controller mounted on a single CubeSat form factor (10 x 10 cm) printed circuit board. These two types of devices are commercially available. Combining multiple sensors on a single board increases the instrument’s sensitivity by a factor of two compared to using a single sensor. In addition, the distributed sensors enable noise identification on small satellites, providing the science-grade magnetometer sensing that is key for both magnetic field measurements and attitude determination. The same type of magnetometer is part of the NASA Artemis Lunar Gateway Heliophysics Environmental and Radiation Measurement Experiment Suite (HERMES) Noisy Environment Magnetometer in a Small Integrated System (NEMISIS) magnetometer scheduled for launch in early 2027.
    Dual-use Electromagnetic Rods: The HyMag-ADCS team is using search coil electronics and torque rod electronics that were developed for other efforts in a new way. Use of these two electronics systems enables the electromagnetic rods in the HyMag-ADCS system to be used in two different ways—as torque rods for attitude determination and as search coils to make scientific measurements. The search coil electronics were designed for ground-based measurements to observe ultra-low frequency signals up to a few kHz that are generated by magnetic beacons for indoor localization. The torque rod electronics were designed for use on CubeSats and have flown on several University of Michigan CubeSats (e.g., CubeSat-investigating Atmospheric Density Response to Extreme driving [CADRE]). The HyMag-ADCS concept is to use the torque rod electronics as needed for attitude control and use the search coil electronics the rest of the time to make scientific AC magnetic field measurements.
    Machine Learning Algorithms for Spacecraft Noise Identification: Applying machine learning to these distributed sensors will autonomously remove noise generated by the spacecraft. The team is developing a powerful Unsupervised Blind Source Separation (UBSS) algorithm and a new method called Wavelet Adaptive Interference Cancellation for Underdetermined Platforms (WAIC-UP) to perform this task, and this method has already been demonstrated in simulation and the lab.
    The HyMag-ADCS system is early in its development stage, and a complete engineering design unit is under development. The project is being completed primarily with undergraduate and graduate students, providing hands-on experiential training for upcoming scientists and engineers.

    For additional details, see the entry for this project on NASA TechPort .
    Project Lead: Prof. Mark Moldwin, University of Michigan
    Sponsoring Organization: NASA Heliophysics Division’s Heliophysics Technology and Instrument Development for Science (H-TIDeS) program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center in Laurel County Relocates

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center in Laurel County Relocates

    Disaster Recovery Center in Laurel County Relocates

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    – The Disaster Recovery Center in Laurel County has relocated to offer in-person support to Kentucky survivors who experienced loss as the result of the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes from May 16-17

    The new location for the Disaster Recovery Center in Laurel County is: Somerset Community College, Laurel Campus Building 2, Room 206, 100 University Drive, London, KY 40741 Working hours are 9 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    Eastern Time, Monday through Saturday and 1 – 7 p

    m

    Eastern Time, Sunday

    Disaster Recovery Centers are one-stop shops where you can get information and advice on available assistance from state, federal and community organizations

     You can get help to apply for FEMA assistance, learn the status of your FEMA application, understand the letters you get from FEMA and get referrals to agencies that may offer other assistance

     FEMA is encouraging Kentuckians affected by the May tornadoes to apply for federal disaster assistance as soon as possible

    The deadline to apply is July 23

    You can visit any Disaster Recovery Center to get in-person assistance

    No appointment is needed

    To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema

    gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362

     You don’t have to visit a center to apply for FEMA assistance

    There are other ways to apply: online at DisasterAssistance

    gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call 800-621-3362

    If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    When you apply, you will need to provide:A current phone number where you can be contacted

    Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying

    Your Social Security Number

    A general list of damage and losses

    Banking information if you choose direct deposit

    If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

    For more information about Kentucky tornado recovery, visit www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4875

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

     
    martyce

    allenjr
    Tue, 06/17/2025 – 13:07

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Researcher’s Guide to: Microgravity Materials Research

    Source: NASA

    June 2025 Edition
    Most materials are formed from a partially or totally fluid sample, and the transport of heat and mass from the fluid into the solid during solidification inherently influences the formation of the material and its resultant properties. The ISS provides a long-duration microgravity environment for conducting experiments that enables researchers to examine the effects of heat and mass transport on materials processes in the near-absence of gravity-driven forces. The microgravity environment greatly reduces buoyancy-driven convection, hydrostatic pressure, and sedimentation. It can also be advantageous for designing experiments with reduced container interactions. The reduction in these gravity-related sources of heat and mass transport may be taken advantage of to determine how material processes and microstructure formation are affected by gravity-driven and gravity independent sources of heat and mass transfer. 
    Materials science experiments on the ISS have yielded broad and significant scientific advancements, including contributing to the development of improved mathematical models for predicting material properties during processing on Earth and enabling a better understanding of microstructure formation during solidification towards controlling the material properties of various alloys. 
    This researcher’s guide provides information on the acceleration environment of the space station and describes facilities available for materials research. Examples of previous microgravity materials research and descriptions of planned research are also provided.
    PDF readers: PDF [4.3 MB]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Centers in Hart, Nelson Counties To Close Permanently; Help is Still Available

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Centers in Hart, Nelson Counties To Close Permanently; Help is Still Available

    Disaster Recovery Centers in Hart, Nelson Counties To Close Permanently; Help is Still Available

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    –The Disaster Recovery Centers in Hart and Nelson counties are scheduled to close permanently June 14 at 7 p

    m

    Kentucky survivors who experienced loss as the result of the April severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides can still apply for FEMA assistance

      The Disaster Recovery Center in Hart County: Community Center, 7035 Raider Hollow Road, Munfordville, KY 42765Working hours for June 14 are 9 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    CT

    The Disaster Recovery Center in Nelson County:Boston Community Center, 61 Lebanon Junction Road, Boston, KY 40107Working hours for June 14 are 9 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    ET

    Disaster Recovery Centers are one-stop shops where you can get information and advice on available assistance from state, federal and community organizations

     You can get help to apply for FEMA assistance, learn the status of your FEMA application, understand the letters you get from FEMA and get referrals to agencies that may offer other assistance

     FEMA is encouraging Kentuckians affected by the April storms to apply for federal disaster assistance as soon as possible

    The deadline to apply is July 25

    You can visit any Disaster Recovery Center to get in-person assistance

    No appointment is needed

    To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema

    gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362

     You don’t have to visit a center to apply for FEMA assistance

    There are other ways to apply: online at DisasterAssistance

    gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call 800-621-3362

    If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    When you apply, you will need to provide:A current phone number where you can be contacted

    Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying

    Your Social Security Number

    A general list of damage and losses

    Banking information if you choose direct deposit

    If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

    For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4860 and www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4864

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

     
    martyce

    allenjr
    Tue, 06/17/2025 – 12:29

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Lunar Rescue System Challenge Supports Astronaut Safety

    Source: NASA

    by Dary Felix Garcia
    NASA is preparing to make history by sending humans to the Moon’s South Pole. There, astronauts will conduct moonwalks for exploration, science experiments, and prepare humanity for the journey to Mars. Missions of this scale require extensive planning, especially when accounting for emergency scenarios such as a crew member becoming incapacitated.  
    To address this critical risk, the South Pole Safety Challenge invited the public to develop a compact, effective device capable of safely rescuing astronauts during emergency situations on the Moon’s surface. Given the harsh and unpredictable conditions of the lunar South Pole, the rescue system must be lightweight, easy to use, and able to transport an incapacitated crew member weighing approximately 755 lbs. (343 kg), representing the crew member and their suit, without the help of the lunar rover. It must also be capable of covering up to 1.24 miles (2 kilometers) across slopes as steep as 20 degrees. 
    “The initiative saved the government an estimated $1,000,000 and more than three  years of work had the solutions been produced using in-house existing resources,” said Ryon Stewart, acting Program Manager of NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation. “The effort demonstrated how crowdsourcing provides NASA with a wide diversity of innovative ideas and skills.”
    The global challenge received 385 unique ideas from 61 countries. Five standout solutions received a share of the $45,000 prize purse.  Each of the selected solutions demonstrated creativity, practicality, and direct relevance to NASA’s needs for future Moon missions.
    The global challenge received 385 unique ideas from 61 countries. Five standout solutions received a share of the $45,000 prize purse.  Each of the selected solutions demonstrated creativity, practicality, and direct relevance to NASA’s needs for future Moon missions.  

    First Place: VERTEX by Hugo Shelley – A self-deploying four-wheeled motorized stretcher that converts from a compact cylinder into a frame that securely encases an immobilized crew member for transport up to 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).  

    Second Place: MoonWheel by Chamara Mahesh – A foldable manual trolley designed for challenging terrain and rapid deployment by an individual astronaut.  

    Third Place: Portable Foldable Compact Emergency Stretcher by Sbarellati team – A foldable stretcher compatible with NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Activity spacesuit. 

    Third Place: Advanced Surface Transport for Rescue (ASTRA) by Pierre-Alexandre Aubé – A collapsible three-wheeled device with a 1.2 mile (2 kilometer) range.
    Third Place: Getting Rick to Roll! by InventorParents – A rapidly deployable, tool-free design suited for functionality in low gravity settings. 

    NASA is identifying how to integrate some features of the winning ideas into current and future mission designs. Most intriguing are the collapsible concepts of many of the designs that would save crucial mass and volume. Additionally, the submissions offered innovative wheel designs to enhance current concepts. NASA expects to incorporate some features into planning for surface operations of the Moon. 
    HeroX hosted the challenge on behalf of NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program. The NASA Tournament Lab, part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program in the Space Technology Mission Directorate, managed the challenge. The program supports global public competitions and crowdsourcing as tools to advance NASA research and development and other mission needs.   
    Find more opportunities at https://www.nasa.gov/get-involved/ 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Spanish National Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export U.S. Military-Grade Radios to Russian Government End Users

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Bence Horvath, 47, a Spanish national living in the United Arab Emirates, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with conspiring to illegally export U.S.-origin radio communications technology to Russian end users without a license.

    Horvath pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to unlawfully export goods to Russia. U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates scheduled sentencing for Sept. 30.

    According to court documents, beginning at least around January 2023, Horvath and others initiated discussions with a small U.S. radio distribution company about procuring and exporting to Russia U.S.-manufactured military-grade radios and related accessories. Over the next several months, Horvath continued his efforts to secure those items, which he intended to transship to Russia via a freight forwarder in Latvia.

    As part of the conspiracy, Horvath purchased 200 of the military-grade radios and intended to export them to Russia. But he was not successful, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained the shipment, preventing the radios from falling into the hands of prohibited Russian end users.

    Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service Southeast Field Office, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California provided valuable assistance.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tortorice and Maeghan Mikorski for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Fulton County Jail Sergeant Charged with Federal Civil Rights Violations and Falsifying Reports

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A six-count indictment was unsealed today in the Northern District of Georgia charging former Fulton County Jail Sergeant, Khadijah Solomon, 47, with using excessive force by repeatedly deploying tasers against compliant, non-resisting pretrial detainees on three separate occasions in January 2025 and writing false reports about each of the incidents.

    “The Civil Rights Division has zero tolerance for law enforcement officers who abuse public trust through excessive force and concealing their misconduct,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will vigorously safeguard the constitutional rights of all individuals, including those in custody, and ensure accountability in this case.”

    “Law enforcement officers in this district perform their duties professionally and honorably, but those who abuse their power will be held accountable for their unlawful conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “On three occasions, Khadijah Solomon allegedly tased Fulton County Jail detainees without a legitimate purpose, causing each of them pain and injury. Abuses of power of this kind are unconstitutional, erode our community’s trust, and will be prosecuted.”

    Solomon faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each federal civil rights violation, and 20 years in prison for each false report. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case based on a referral from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret Hobson and Brent Gray for the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Briana M. Clark of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $6.5 million in stolen goods seized in 2025, California leads in nationwide organized retail crime crackdown

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 17, 2025

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom announced that this year, the state recovered 113,245 stolen items worth nearly $6.5 million. In May alone, arrests were up almost 130%, stolen assets recovered were up 65%, and the value of the items recovered was up nearly 49% from April.

    Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that from January to May, the state’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force conducted 331 investigations, 629 arrests, and recovered 113,245 stolen items valued at nearly $6.5 million. 

    Spearheaded by the California Highway Patrol, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force, through coordination with local law enforcement agencies and other partners, has been involved in over 3,800 investigations, resulting in the arrest of more than 4,400 suspects and the recovery of nearly 1.4 million stolen goods, valued at over $58 million since 2019.

    In California, we value our public safety and back our business community. Organized retail crimes have no place in our society and I’m proud of the work our CHP officers do up and down the state to protect our families and communities.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Using arresting tools made available in part because of the Governor’s organized retail crime package he passed last year and ongoing commitment to public safety, compared to April, organized retail crime enforcement has gone up in all areas in May:

    • 120 Investigations: Up 131% 
    • 246 Arrests – Up 130%
    • 72,454 stolen assets recovered – Up 66%
    • $2,046,084 in assets recovered – Up 49% 

     Leading the nation

    As part of the coordinated national organized retail crime blitz, from May 26 to 30, the CHP conducted high-visibility enforcement operations throughout the state – arresting 90 individuals, recovering nearly $153,000 worth of stolen merchandise, and identifying multiple suspects linked to organized crime rings operating in and beyond California. 

    The CHP joined more than 100 law enforcement agencies and major retailers for this multi-day effort to investigate and intercept criminal activity in shopping centers, malls, and high-traffic retail areas throughout California.

    “Retail theft doesn’t stop at state lines—and neither do we,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “By working together with our law enforcement partners and retailers nationwide, we are sending a clear message: if you come to California to steal, we will be here to stop you.”

    The blitz, coordinated out of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, coordinated an effort across 28 states to seize stolen vehicles, narcotics, weapons and other goods. 

    These efforts reinforced the importance of intelligence sharing, real-time coordination, and proactive enforcement in deterring retail theft.

    Crime dropped significantly last year

    According to an analysis of Real Time Crime Index data by the Public Policy Institute of California, violent crime dropped by 4.6% and property crime dropped by 8.5% in 2024, compared to 2023. Overall, the decreases in violent and property crimes in California were similar to those seen by law enforcement agencies in other states – property crime went down by 8.5% in California and 8.4% elsewhere. 

    Stronger enforcement. Serious penalties. Real consequences.

    California has invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. In 2023, as part of California’s Public Safety Plan, the Governor announced the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.

    Last August, Governor Newsom signed into law the most significant bipartisan legislation to crack down on property crime in modern California history. Building on the state’s robust laws and record public safety funding, these bipartisan bills offer new tools to bolster ongoing efforts to hold criminals accountable for smash-and-grab robberies, property crime, retail theft, and auto burglaries. While California’s crime rate remains at near historic lows, these laws help California adapt to evolving criminal tactics to ensure perpetrators are effectively held accountable.

    As part of the state’s largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime, Governor Newsom announced last year the state distributed $267 million to 55 communities to help local communities combat organized retail crime. These funds have enabled cities and counties to hire more police, make more arrests, and secure more felony charges against suspects. 

    Saturating key areas 

    Working collaboratively to heighten public safety, the Governor tasked the CHP to work with local law enforcement areas in key areas to saturate high-crime areas, aiming to reduce roadway violence and criminal activity in the area, specifically vehicle theft and organized retail crime. Since the inception of this regional initiative, there have been over 7,300 arrests, more than 5,000 stolen vehicles recovered and over 350 firearms confiscated across Bakersfield, San Bernardino and Oakland.

    Recent news

    Jun 17, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Ahead of today’s court hearing in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to stop Trump’s unlawful militarization of Los Angeles, learn more about what Governor Gavin Newsom has done to protect Californians. I’m confident in the rule of law. I’m confident…

    Jun 17, 2025

    News What you need to know: President Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles is hamstringing firefighting resources in California just as peak fire season begins. SACRAMENTO – All 14 Joint Task Force Rattlesnake teams responded to the Los Angeles fires in…

    Jun 17, 2025

    News What you need to know: Against the backdrop of President Trump’s massive and costly bill gutting laws protecting against AI-generated child pornography, scams, and other criminal activity, Governor Newsom is continuing his leadership by releasing a groundbreaking…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Over half of this crucial firefighting team has been diverted off wildfire work as part of Trump’s illegal Guard deployment

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 17, 2025

    What you need to know: President Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles is hamstringing firefighting resources in California just as peak fire season begins.

    SACRAMENTO – All 14 Joint Task Force Rattlesnake teams responded to the Los Angeles fires in January. Now, only nine are available and each of those are significantly understaffed, thanks to President Trump’s illegal deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles. 

    Joint Task Force Rattlesnake is made up of over 300 California National Guard (CalGuard) members, who work at the direction of CAL FIRE to help fight and prevent fires. More than half of that team has been diverted off of wildfire efforts to Los Angeles as part of President Trump’s illegal federalization of the Guard. 

    With peak fire season right on the horizon, we need all available boots on the ground to protect communities. President Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles is sidelining crucial firefighting and prevention resources – more than half of Task Force Rattlesnake.

    It’s time to end the chaos and get California’s National Guard back to this important work.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The National Guard impact is on top of the Trump administration’s dangerous cuts to the U.S. Forest Service, which also threatens the safety of communities across the state. The U.S. Forest Service has lost 10% of all positions and 25% of positions outside of direct wildfire response – both of which are likely to impact wildfire response this year. 

    “In just the first five months of 2025 California has experienced more than 2,300 wildfires,” said CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler. “Having the necessary firefighting apparatus and personnel is critical to our mission at CAL FIRE.”

    California’s unprecedented wildfire readiness 

    Despite the federal cuts, California remains ready. As part of the state’s ongoing investment in wildfire resilience and emergency response, CAL FIRE has significantly expanded its workforce over the past five years by adding an average of 1,800 full-time and 600 seasonal positions annually – nearly double that from the previous administration. 

    Late last month, the Governor announced $72 million for projects across the state that help reduce catastrophic wildfire risk. Additionally, 20 new vegetation management projects spanning nearly 8,000 acres have already been approved for fast-tracking under the Governor’s new streamlining initiative.

    This builds on consecutive years of intensive and focused work by California to confront the severe ongoing risk of catastrophic wildfires, and Governor Newsom’s emergency proclamation signed in March to fast-track forest and vegetation management projects throughout the state. Additionally, to bolster the state’s ability to respond to fires, Governor Newsom announced last week that the state’s second C-130 Hercules airtanker is ready for firefighting operations, adding to the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world. 

    New, bold moves to streamline state-level regulatory processes builds long-term efforts already underway in California to increase wildfire response and forest management in the face of a hotter, drier climate.

    Recent news

    Jun 17, 2025

    News What you need to know: Against the backdrop of President Trump’s massive and costly bill gutting laws protecting against AI-generated child pornography, scams, and other criminal activity, Governor Newsom is continuing his leadership by releasing a groundbreaking…

    Jun 17, 2025

    News What you need to know: As Governor Newsom’s motion to block the Trump Administration’s illegal militarization of downtown Los Angeles heads to the Ninth Circuit, former military leaders agree – Trump’s takeover poses grave risk to both servicemembers and…

    Jun 13, 2025

    News What you need to know: Donald Trump is raiding public safety funds to bankroll his militarized birthday party this Saturday, while stripping local police departments, first responders, and communities across the country of the tools they need to keep Americans…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Military Leaders to Trump: End LA’s occupation. We aren’t a domestic police force

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 17, 2025

    What you need to know: As Governor Newsom’s motion to block the Trump Administration’s illegal militarization of downtown Los Angeles heads to the Ninth Circuit, former military leaders agree – Trump’s takeover poses grave risk to both servicemembers and civilians and to our country’s constitutional norms.

    Sacramento, California – As Governor Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit to block the Trump Administration’s illegal militarization of downtown Los Angeles heads to the Ninth Circuit, a powerful new amicus brief from retired four-star generals, admirals, and former Army and Navy secretaries backs the state’s position. Their message is clear: Trump’s takeover poses a grave risk to our servicemembers, our civilians, and our constitutional norms.

    Our members of the military deserve the highest praise and honors for their service to our nation. But with one swift stroke of a pen 3,000 miles away, Trump has put them all on the frontlines of an unneeded military activation.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Amicus brief

    Retired four-star admirals and generals and former secretaries of the Army and Navy filed another amicus brief outlining the grave risks of the state’s emergency request to revert control of the CalGuard back to the Governor. Read the amicus brief here.

    Hear it from former military leaders why Trump’s move is wrong:

    Diverts soldiers from critical missions

    California relies heavily on the rapid response capabilities of its National Guard, especially during wildfire season, which begins in June and poses a threat of fast-moving, large-scale fires. The CalGuard is vital to the state’s disaster preparedness and emergency response. Diverting California Guard personnel from these critical state missions risks degrading the state’s emergency preparedness.

    Poses a danger to the safety of all 

    U.S. military personnel are not extensively trained for domestic law enforcement, particularly in emotionally charged situations or civil unrest. This is a specialized skill set that law enforcement officers train for continually. Ordering troops to act against fellow Americans places them in an operationally difficult position, potentially leading to irreparable harm.

    Politicizes the military

    The U.S. military’s apolitical nature is jeopardized by the President’s actions, which have “overtly pitted the military against his professed political opponents.” For example, he suggested Governor Newsom be arrested, requested military personnel cheer as if at a political rally, and stated protesters at his birthday party in Washington, D.C. over the weekend would be met with “very big force.” Involving the military in domestic political controversies risks undermining its ability to recruit and retain servicemembers, garner broad public support, and ultimately achieve its core mission of protecting the nation.

    What they’re saying

    Recently, several veterans and veteran rights’ groups came together to decry Trump’s militarization of California, read their excerpts below:

    • Kyle Bibby, former U.S. Marine Infantry Captain, Co-CEO of Black Veterans Project: “President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marine Corps infantry units on US soil is a dangerous power grab that will escalate the situation rather than help it. Any commander worth his rank knows to empower the leaders on the ground to accomplish their mission.
    • James Espinoza, US Army Veteran, retired first responder, Veteran Nonprofit President: “Our brave young men and women in the Marine Corps are best utilized protecting our nation as a whole. We do not need shock troops in our cities. We need peaceful collaboration between community members and protectors who are also our community members.
    • Janessa Goldbeck, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Senior Advisor of VoteVets: “American taxpayers are now footing the bill for a militarized spectacle meant to send a message of dominance, not security. When a president uses the military to police his own people, we are no longer in the realm of democratic governance—we are witnessing the rehearsal of authoritarian rule.” 
    • Libby Jamison, U.S. Navy family member: “This isn’t what our loved ones in uniform signed up to do, and activating them against our fellow citizens breaks the trust with military families who sacrifice every day on behalf of our nation.”
    • Chef Basil Kimbrew, Chair of the CDP Veterans Caucus: “Our active duty soldiers did not sign up to fight against our own communities. We signed a blank check to defend our country, not to hurt our own people.”
    • Andy Kopp, U.S. Navy Veteran, San Diego, CA: “As a Navy veteran, I know that these service members deployed to American streets, will hold steadfast to their core values and demonstrate the restraint our entire country needs, in order to move forward from the unbridled impulses of a president without conviction.
    • Chris Purdy, U.S. Army, Iraq War Veteran, CEO of The Chamberlain Network: “Deploying the National Guard and active-duty Marines into American communities is a dangerous and unnecessary escalation. These forces are trained for national defense—not for policing American neighborhoods.
    • Naveed Shah, U.S. Army Veteran, Political Director of Common Defense: “The deployment of National Guard and active duty Marines on the streets of Los Angeles goes against everything America stands for. As a veteran, the military’s role is to defend our nation, not police our streets.
    • Shawn VanDiver, U.S. Navy veteran, Founder of the San Diego Chapter of the Truman National Security Project: “Asking the U.S. military to take up arms against American citizens is a betrayal of everything we swore to defend. This isn’t about public safety—it’s about political control, and it puts our service members in an impossible position.” 
    • Akilah Templeton, President & CEO of Veterans Village of San Diego; Vice President of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies, Native of Los Angeles: “We’ve seen from history, most notably Vietnam, how an entire generation can become wounded when a nation is divided. Above all, we owe it to our service members to ensure that their sacrifices are in service of missions they can stand behind with pride. These are our future veterans. Caring for them begins now.

    Read their entire quotes here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Joins Coalition in Submitting a Comment Letter Opposing Offshore Oil, Gas Drilling

    Source: US State of California

    Tuesday, June 17, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined a coalition of 10 attorneys general in filing a comment letter with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management opposing offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the letter, the coalition urges the federal government to exclude all planning areas in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from the upcoming 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The final program will determine which ocean areas could be opened to lease sales for oil and gas activity during the current five-year planning period, which covers the period 2024-2029. 

    “President Trump is once again taking action to line the pockets of his Big Oil friends. This time, he’s expanding oil and gas development by attempting to drill in our coastal communities,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We won’t stand idly by as the President continues to ignore science. That’s why I, alongside attorneys general nationwide, are calling on the federal government to consider the environmental and public health risks of offshore oil and gas drilling and protect our coastal communities.” 

    There is no compelling need to risk our marine and coastal resources for the limited supplies of fossil fuels off of our coasts. The United States already produces more oil and gas than any other country and exports more than it uses. Demand for gasoline has been dropping since 2019, especially on the East and West coasts. As the comment letter states: “Existing uses of these marine and coastal areas are essential parts of our state economies, national energy needs do not require drilling in these environmentally important areas, and drilling would be inconsistent with laws passed by our state opposing offshore oil and gas activity and promoting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.” 

    The coalition’s comment letter also further details the devastating impacts of past oil spills, including the Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 workers, spilled 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and caused billions of dollars of losses to fishing and tourism industries along the Gulf, as well as oil spills in California that resulted in massive losses of wildlife and harm to local fisheries. Currently, California’s law prohibits offshore drilling in state waters and holds drilling companies strictly liable for spills.

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington in submitting this comment letter. 

    A copy of the comment letter can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales and Turgis Gaillard are developing a 100% French airborne surveillance solution based on the AAROK MALE drone and the AirMaster S radar

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales and Turgis Gaillard are developing a 100% French airborne surveillance solution based on the AAROK MALE drone and the AirMaster S radar

    • Thales and Turgis Gaillard teaming up to offer a fully French MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) drone solution for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
    • Thales will supply the AirMaster S radar, a multirole AESA1radar with proven operational performance on the French Navy’s Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, and Turgis Gaillard will supply the AAROK MALE drone. 
    • Thales once again demonstrates its ability to equip drones with a latest-generation, combat-proven radar, entirely developed in France.
    • This collaboration paves the way for the integration of other Thales sensors on the AAROK drone.
    © Alexandre LIGHT EX MACHINA / Thales” id=”image-8f5cd0cc-842a-4d1f-a6ea-beca66d757a8″ data-id=”8f5cd0cc-842a-4d1f-a6ea-beca66d757a8″ data-original=”https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8f5cd0cc-842a-4d1f-a6ea-beca66d757a8/-/inline/no/PAS25_Events_MOU-Turgis-Gaillard_LXM_2025-06-17_093917.jpg” data-mfp-src=”https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/8f5cd0cc-842a-4d1f-a6ea-beca66d757a8/-/format/auto/” alt=”© Alexandre LIGHT EX MACHINA / Thales”/>
    © Alexandre LIGHT EX MACHINA / Thales

    The AAROK drone designed by Turgis Gaillard, unveiled at the 2023 Paris Air Show, is the first MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) drone to be entirely developed in France. It is designed for ISR missions in high-intensity conflicts and to conduct maritime surveillance operations.

    To meet these specific mission requirements, Thales’s AirMaster S radar was selected for its exceptional operational capabilities, which have already been proven in combat conditions, both in export markets and in France, most notably on France’s ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft. The radar was also chosen for its compatibility for integration on MALE drones.

    “Thales is delighted to be able to offer forces a 100% French solution based on the AAROK drone, designed for high-intensity operations and incorporating our AI-enhanced radar system,” said Philippe Duhamel, Executive Vice-President, Defence Mission Systems, Thales.

    “This collaboration with Thales reflects our shared objective of providing a 100% French MALE drone solution to meet the exacting requirements of high-intensity conflicts. The choice of the AirMaster S radar expands the operational capabilities of the AAROK drone and marks a major step forward in the strategic autonomy of our industry.” Fanny Turgis and Patrick Gaillard, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer, Turgis Gaillard.

    1Active Electronically Scanned Array

    About Thales

    Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

    The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries.

    In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

    About Turgis Gaillard

    Founded in 2011, Turgis Gaillard is a French company specialising in the design and production of aerospace and defence systems, industrial maintenance and through-life support for vehicles. The company has 400 employees and generates annual revenues of €75 million.

    Thales Media Library – Live photos from the show

    Paris Air Show | Thales Group

    Salon International de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace | Thales Group

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales and Boreal team up to produce long-range loitering munitions

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales and Boreal team up
    to produce long-range loitering munitions

    • Thales has reached an agreement with Boreal, a subsidiary of the the multidisciplinary aerospace and defence Group MISTRAL, specialising in UAV technologies and known in particular for its high-performance long-range Boreal Aerial Vehicle.
    • The cooperation will further strengthen France’s defence industrial and technological base through the development of a comprehensive range of sovereign French long-range loitering munitions offering a unique combination of performance, availability and dependability.
    • Based on mature platform and payload technologies, this innovative solution will be available from 2026.
    © Alexandre LIGHT EX MACHINA / Thales

    This long-range loitering munition (MTO-LP1) will meet the operational requirements of France and other NATO forces. With range capabilities of several hundred kilometres, which technically could be extended even further, the system is designed for easy deployment by two operators in less than 30 minutes. Up to 10 munitions could be launched simultaneously for coordinated operations. This versatile solution can be easily adapted for any use case. The payload offers a high level of safety and security and is platform-agnostic, which reduces transport, storage and other logistical requirements, particularly in the theatre of operations.

    The munition is optimised for target engagements at long range. The incremental development roadmap for the MTO-LP includes an initial operational capability in 2026 with annual production of 1,000 warheads, followed by advanced developments in 2027 to incorporate counter-vulnerability functions, enhanced mission profiles and a varied range of effectors for long-range military strikes. Initial flight tests are scheduled for the summer of 2025.

    The cooperation between Thales and Boreal will strengthen France’s defence industrial and technological base by supporting the ramp-up of industrial operations by Boreal, a medium-sized enterprise, and will offer additional partnership opportunities in Belgium.

    “Thales is excited about this collaboration with Boreal, a pioneer in drone technology whose UAVs are widely recognised for their long endurance capabilities. By combining the agility of Boreal with our industrial capacity, we plan to develop a high-performance solution that meets real operational needs and will be available from 2026,” said Eric Normant, Vice President, Vehicles and Tactical Systems, Thales.

    1 MTO-LP: Munition Télé-Opérée – Longue Portée

    About Thales

    Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

    The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

    Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

    About Boreal

    Boreal SAS, a leading specialist in long-range Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), designs and operates robust, field-proven Unmanned Aerial Systems carrying payloads tailored to specific operational requirements. These systems are in service in many different sectors, in particular for surveillance, reconnaissance and military support missions.

    Boreal’s expertise is part of a broader ecosystem including sister companies M3 Systems France and M3 Systems Belgium, which are recognised for their know-how in positioning solutions for critical environments. This unique ecosystem underpins the potential for technological innovation of the family-owned MISTRAL Group, a multi-disciplinary player in the aerospace and defence sector.

    ​Thales Media Library – Live photos from the show

    Paris Air Show | Thales Group

    Salon International de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace | Thales Group

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Togo: Authorities must investigate allegations protesters were tortured and end crackdown on dissent

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The Togolese authorities must investigate allegations that protesters were subjected to torture, following protests earlier this month, and respect their commitments to protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, Amnesty International said today.

    Dozens of people were arrested on 5 and 6 June in Lomé after taking to the streets to protest against a government crackdown on dissent, the cost-of-living crisis and changes to the constitution that could allow the current President of the Council of Ministers Faure Gnassingbé to remain in power indefinitely.

    Fifty-six people were released on 9 June, according to the public prosecutor. Three protesters are still detained as of 17 June, according to several sources.

    By banning protests and repressing them with force, the authorities are in breach of international law.

    Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa

    While detained, several protesters were subjected to torture or other ill-treatment, according to testimonies gathered by Amnesty International.   

    “These Togolese protesters are being harshly punished solely for expressing their opinions. By banning protests and repressing them with force, the authorities are in breach of international law which protects the right to protest. They have also failed to respect the commitments they made during the last Universal Periodic Review, including the prohibition of torture in all its forms; and the investigation of alleged acts of torture,” said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “The crackdown on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must end immediately.”

    In a statement read out on television on 9 June, the public prosecutor referred to ‘individuals [who] in groups noisily occupied the public thoroughfares […], orchestrating raucous noises and erecting barricades’, even though ‘no declaration of a public demonstration had been registered’, which in his view constituted ‘aggravated disturbance of public order’.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: UK: Crime and policing bill an attack on our ‘proud legacy of protest’

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Amnesty International stages powerful ‘human timeline’ highlighting over 100 years of protest  

    From suffragettes to Bristol Boycott: a legacy of defiant movements  

    The Crime and Policing Bill seeks to further erode right to protest    

    Amnesty International has organised a ‘human timeline’ outside Parliament to highlight Britain’s ‘proud history of defiant movements’, ahead of the Report stage debate on the Crime and Policing Bill on the 17th June. It is the fourth anti-protest bill introduced in Parliament in just four years.  

    The proposed legislation would give police sweeping new powers, including the ability to ban face coverings at protests, impose restrictions on protests based on vague rules around being in the ‘vicinity’ of religious buildings, and compel people, including protesters, on limited visas to leave the country if they receive a police caution.   

    The bill follows last year’s Criminal Justice Bill, part of the former government’s sustained crackdown on peaceful protest. Protesters now face increasing criminalisation, with some receiving prison sentences for nonviolent action that exceed those given for serious violent crimes. 

    The protest outside Parliament today features real-life activists and actors representing key historical movements and holding placards: 

    • The Suffragettes  

    “They told us to stay at home, but we won women the right to vote” 

    “They called us ‘terrorists’ but we helped bring about a fairer society” 

    “They called us naive, but we advocated for a safer world” 

    “They called us ‘irresponsible’, but we helped to make racial discrimination in employment unlawful” 

    “They called us “deviants”, but we won equal rights and respect” 

    “They called us annoying but we tackled discrimination against people with disabilities” 

    “They called us powerless, but we continue to expose the injustice of housing in the UK” 

    “They called us eco-mobs, but we made it impossible to ignore the plight of our planet” 

    • Black Lives Matter  

    “They called us ‘thugs’ but we continue to uncover institutional racism” 

    “They call us hate marches, but we won’t stop campaigning against apartheid and genocide” 

    By demonstrating the breadth of protest over the past 100 years, and the rights and freedoms that were won, the stunt shows their true power in making the world a better, more equitable place. 

    Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International UK’s Director of Campaigns, said:  

    “The UK has a legacy of defiant movements – where demonstrations both large and small, have shaped a fairer and more just society. 

    “From the Suffragettes  and the Anti-Apartheid Movement to the Bristol Bus Boycott or the UK’s first Pride march, these protesters faced fierce resistance in their time. Yet today, we celebrate the rights and freedoms they fought so hard to win. 

    “The new Crime and Policing Bill is the fourth piece of legislation in as many years aimed at clamping down on our right to protest. It’s yet another example of the Government attacking our ability to hold them to account beyond the ballot box – undermining our freedom of speech. Had such laws existed in the past, many of the historic protests we now celebrate might not have been possible. 

    “We have a proud history of protest and we must continue on that path, not follow the tide of authoritarian laws that’s undermining freedom globally.” 

    A spokesperson for Grenfell United, said:  

    “The power of protest should never be forgotten. Our Silent walks serve both to remember those we lost, and to show that Grenfell issues are not localised, they are a national problem. Building safety affects thousands of people across the country, whether leaseholder, private or social housing tenant, and our gatherings show those responsible the pace of change is too slow, and the risk to life too high. 

    “The Crime and Policing Bill is part of a growing trend on the crackdown of the right to protest. This is a deeply concerning trend for communities who turn to protest as a result of the grave injustices they have faced. By walking in our thousands each year, we show those in power we will never forget what was done to us, what needs to happen, and that the nation is behind us in our fight for Justice” 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION the case of Ahmadreza Jalali in Iran – B10-0296/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Evin Incir, Chloé Ridel
    on behalf of the S&D Group

    NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

    B10‑0296/2025

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on  the case of Ahmadreza Jalali in Iran

    (2025/2753(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran;

     

    – having regard to its rule of procedure 150(5);

     

    A. whereas since 1 October 2024 over 1000 individuals have been executed in Iran, including political activists, women protesters, and minority group members;

     

    B. whereas Iran systematically denies detainees due process, including access to counsel, use of torture, forced confessions, and extended solitary confinement;

     

    C. whereas Iranian authorities engage in hostage diplomacy by arbitrarily detaining dual and EU citizens;

     

    D. whereas Professor Ahmadreza Jalali, a Swedish-Iranian academic specialist in disaster medicine, has been detained since April 2016, sentenced to death following a grossly unfair trial, denied legal representation and essential healthcare, and remains at imminent risk of execution despite international appeals;

     

    1. Expresses its grave concern over the case of Ahmadreza Jalali; condemns his sentence to death penalty based on a coerced confession obtained under torture, and demands his immediate, unconditional release; calls for his immediate and unconditional release and, in the meantime, for his urgent and permanent transfer to a hospital or clinic where he can receive specialised and regular medical care that is not available in Evin prison;

     

    2. Reiterates its strong opposition to death penalty in all circumstances, urges Iran to introduce an immediate moratorium as a first step toward its abolition, and demands cessation of all executions;

     

    3. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all EU and dual‐citizens detained in Iran, as part of an end to hostage diplomacy;

     

    4. Deplores ongoing practices of torture, including solitary confinement, forced confessions, and denial of legal defence, and urges Iran to uphold its international human rights obligations ;

     

    5. Urges the Council to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, and to expand targeted sanctions under the EU human rights sanctions regime against individuals responsible for abuses, including in Jalali’s case;

     

    6. Demands that Iran grant full access to UN human rights mechanisms, including the UN Special Rapporteur and fact-finding mission, to investigate abuse cases such as Jalali’s;

     

    7. Calls on the High Representative and Member States to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure Jalali’s release, including through raising his case in bilateral negotiations and EU-Iran human rights dialogue;

     

    8. Commends Iran’s women-led “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, and encourages the EU to increase humanitarian and civil society funding aimed at empowering women, minorities, and independent academics;

     

    9. Emphasises that demonstrable human rights improvements and the release of political prisoners must be central to all elements of EU-Iran engagement;

     

    10. Instructs its President to transmit this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative, the government and Supreme Leader of Iran, UN Secretary-General, and the UN Human Rights Council.

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION The case of Ahmadreza Jalali – B10-0286/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
    pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

    Sebastiaan Stöteler, Marieke Ehlers, António Tânger Corrêa, Nikola Bartůšek, Pierre‑Romain Thionnet, Gerolf Annemans, Hermann Tertsch
    on behalf of the PfE Group

    NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

    Document selected :  

    B10-0286/2025

    Texts tabled :

    B10-0286/2025

    Texts adopted :

    B10‑0286/2025

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on  the case of Ahmadreza Jalali

    (2025/2753(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to previous resolutions on Iran,

    –  having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

    1. whereas Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian lecturer and researcher at the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels (VUB) Belgium and Universita degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale in Italy, was arrested on 25 April 2016 in Tehran while attending academic workshops on disaster medicine in Tehran, Iran; whereas Ahmadreza Djalali was accused for spying for Israel and after a mock trial, was sentenced to death; whereas Ahmadreza Djalali has been arbitrarily detained in the notorious Evin prison and pressured into false confessions under torture;
    2. whereas his situation has been described as inhumane; whereas he suffered a heart attack in May 2025, leading to increased international calls for his release given that his health has sharply deteriorated and described as life-threatening; 
    3. whereas the human rights situation in Iran is increasingly deteriorating, and experts have pointed to a well-documented pattern of unlawful and arbitrary detentions in Iran of dual and foreign nationals or residents, including citizens of EU Member States; whereas European-Iranian dual nationals continue to be arrested, receive unfair trials, are placed in solitary confinement and sentenced on the basis of false and vague espionage charges; whereas Iran routinely uses hostage diplomacy as a foreign policy tool, including in the cases of European citizens, notably Dr Ahmedreza Djalali;
    4. whereas Iranian courts, particularly revolutionary courts, regularly fail to provide fair trials and accept confessions obtained under torture as evidence in court; whereas the authorities also routinely restrict detainees’ access to legal counsel, particularly during the investigation period; whereas the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is included in the US sanctions list for their involvement in grave human rights violations;
       
    1. Calls on Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Ahmadreza Djalali;
    2. Strongly condemns Iran’s policy of hostage diplomacy; expresses grave concern about Ahmadreza Djalali’s situation and firmly calls on the Iranian authorities to ensure that his rights are protected at all times, including access to adequate medical care and full access to his family and lawyers of his own choice;
    3. Reminds the Iranian authorities of their obligation to treat Ahmadreza Djalali in line with human rights standards and that they are ultimately responsible for providing humane conditions of detention and healthcare; 
    4. Strongly condemns the ongoing deterioration of human rights in Iran and condemns the Iranian regime’s use of the death penalty as a means of political repression;
    5. Reiterates its call on the Council to expand the EU sanctions list to all those responsible for human rights violations in Iran;
    6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the relevant parties.

     

    Last updated: 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –